Six months since the last update. It’s not that my Kiss interest has become any less. It’s just been a really busy winter and spring. So most of my Kiss related projects have been set on hold. First had to find a new job and then I have had other issues with decease in my family. So most of my time has been occupied with finding a new job and taking care of my family.

One good thing is that I finally more or less managed to get my man cave/Kiss room ready. Finally I have a place to display parts of my collection. It’s nice to not have all the stuff in boxes and packed away. My financial situation has also been quite good. So there has been a lot of eBay shopping. A little to much really. The only problem is that the humidity in the basement where I have the man cave. But It seems like I more or less have worked the problem out with a dehumidifier.

My last Kiss related purchase is a order for one of Harry Lee’s great custom Kiss figures. I have started with a Gene Dynasty figure. I just can’t wait until It’s finished. He is just an incredible artist. And custom figures are not easy to make. Believe me. I have tried.

And then there are the European Kiss concerts this summer. I’m only attending two shows this year because I have started a new job and can’t stay away from the office much this summer. But I will be at the first show of the tour in Stockholm and in Stavanger one week later. The Stockholm show will also be the premiere for the new Monster stage. So I’m really looking forward to that. I will try and get you guys full reviews of both shows.

And of course there is the Kiss Kruise III in October. So It will be a great Kiss year for me. See you all soon.

Kiss Faq is a new book from the author of the Black Diamond books Dale Sherman. The first one was a good book back in the days when there was not many Kiss books around. And I also enjoyed the updated version that came out a couple of years ago. Not the most objective Kiss book in the world but still quite good. The second Black Diamond book is maybe not that great. But still a Kiss book that a Kiss book nerd like me have to have.

So I was really curious what Dale would come up with the this time. It’s supposedly part of a series. That’s why It’s have a little confusing name. An name I find a little uncool because everything in the “Kiss world” related to the name “Kiss Faq” is related to Julian Gills www.kissfaq.com. And naming the book Kiss Faq after Julian have released a lot of great books are just wrong in my opinion.

But lets not butcher a book because It has the wrong name. The book is actually quite good. Not among the best Kiss books I have read. But a lot more objective than i found Black Diamond to be. The book is very fact orientated and It’s very obvious that the author doesn’t have any inside information on the band. And there is not much new stuff that haven’t been covered in other Kiss books. So I really would say It’s more a book for a “Kiss novice” than a long time fan that has read a lot about Kiss. But the author should have kudos for having small chapters on Bill Aucoin, Sean Delaney etc.

What I do find confusing about the book is how the content is divided in the book. It’s really isn’t chronological and jumps all over the place. I understand that the author wanted to do It a little bit different. But I’m not really sure how good It works. But the quality content makes It readable anyway.

Would I recommend buying the book? Not really sure. For Kiss book nerds It’s a must. But for someone just interested reading about the history of the band I would really pick up Julian Gill’s Kiss Album Focus book or even the second edition of Dale Sherman’s Black Diamond book.

Verdict: 6/10

After quite disappointing books from both Gene and Ace I really felt that Peter probably would be the one that would deliver a book that I would enjoy reading. Even if I have always seen Peter as “the Brooklyn Moaner” It at least should be good entertainment. I brought the signed book with me on the Kiss Kruise, but were not able to read It before I came home.

I really don’t know why. But I really don’t care much for the childhood tales from any of the Kiss members. Peter’s book is no exception. It’s fine to read but not that entertaining. But from when he joins Kiss in the book the really grows. And yes he does do a lot of moaning. But at least he seems sincere and It’s nice to get his version of the story from his point of view. It makes the book a really enjoyable read. Even if It doesn’t really change my view of Peter Criss as a Kiss member much. Peter is really a moaner. And in one way the book is a deep dive into his personality. A guy who is really insecure and feels the world is really against him. But for the most the bad things that happen to him is his own fault even if the feels he has to put the blame on other people.

His description of Gene and Paul is more or less how I would expect It to be. And my appreciation of the guys are really higher than before I read the book. From what I can read from in-between the lines they really threaded Peter more than fair. Peters portrayal of Ace is a lot less flattering than I would expect It to be. He seems to feel that he has been more or less betrayed by the guy in the band that really should have covered his back.

The coverage of the history of Kiss is much better than in any of the other two Kiss biographies. And even if there are a couple of factual faults they are not as common as in the other Kiss biographies. So as a Kiss biography I really love this book. Even if It doesn’t do Peter any favors.

So I must applaud Peter for his sincerity in the book. I only wish he had dived even deeper into a lot of stuff in Kisstory. But good stuff always leaves you wanting more… Buy the damn book!

Verdict: 8/10

Not to get to much into It. But 2012 has not really been my year. Except getting married to the girl of my dreams. And the beginning of what should be the coolest trip of the year almost ended in a disaster. Vegard and I met up at the airport early on monday morning and everything seemed to be going smooth until 30 minutes before the plain to London were supposed to leave. Then suddenly the plane was postponed for hours. So It was easy to understand that we would not be able to catch our plane from London to Miami. Then we got rebooked to fly Oslo – Copenhagen – Manchester – Philadelphia – Orlando – Miami. Something we thought seemed strange since Philadelphia was right in the middle of “Sandy’s” path. And of course we ended up being stranded in Manchester the morning after.

So let’s just say that we did not have much hope for getting on the Kruise on tuesday morning in Manchester, England. But at least we had to try to get there before the boat went on wednesday. We had two alternatives London – Toronto – Miami or London – San Francisco – Miami. And of course the airline company had no way on booking us on a plane to London. So we had to pay for new tickets. But we went for the safe option traveling over San Francisco. One hell off a plane ride to get to Miami. But much better than not getting to Miami at all. So after about 15-16 hours by plane and some waiting in the SF airport we ended up in Miami at 05:00 AM in Miami. Of course without any luggage. And we did not get that back until we came home again.

So after a couple of hours relaxing at The Holiday In we had to go and buy stuff to replace at least some of our luggage. I felt really sorry for the people sitting beside us on the last trip from San Fransisco to Miami. Because we must have smelled really bad.

After shopping we met up with our friends Håkon and Nico that had been in Miami a couple days before we arrived and headed over to the check in for the boat (Norwegian Pearl). The whole check in process and getting on the boat went pretty smooth. And then we headed up to our mini suite on the 11th deck. And I tell you. With four people living in the same room I would not have liked to be in a smaller space than a mini suite. All the Kiss stuff was laying waiting for us in the suite when we came in. At least for two of us. The other two had to talk to the lady cleaning the rooms to get their Kiss merc.

The first thing I did was to get in the shower and get some clean clothes on. I can’t say how magical that felt after traveling and sleeping in the same clothes for almost three days. Then we headed up to the 12th deck were the acoustic sail away concert with Kiss were supposed to be. And we checked out the crew sound checking before the concert. They also threw out a lot of Kiss guitar pics. So we more or less had complete sets for the acoustic set before the concert even had started.

We also managed to get most of the Norwegian Kiss fans together so we could take a group picture together that Stig posted on the Kiss Army Norway website before we left Miami. A fun moment with a lot of people already in party mode. So It was not the easiest assignment to gather people for the photo shoot.

Then there was time for the the dreaded safety briefing. but we tried to find a strategical good spot so we easily could get to the 12th deck before the acoustic show began. And It worked out really good. We all got spots in front of the stage on the first, second and third row at the concert. The time before the concert went really fast. It was quite hot standing there in the sun. But the anticipation among the people around me was incredible. To bad there was one jerk quite close to us who ruined some of It for the people standing beside and behind him. He even managed to say that he had every right to behave badly because he was American and this was his country.

For me who didn’t go to the first Kiss Kruise this was just really magical. Seeing Kiss acoustic is something I have been dreaming of since the Kiss conventions and Unplugged show. I really don’t know how many times I have seen the acoustic show from the first Kruise on DVD. But It’s many, many times. And the show this time was as good if not better than that show. The band sounded great and Paul’s voice was much better than expected. Everybody seemed to have fun and the set was much longer than on the first Kruise. At one point Gene got so pissed at one of his bass guitars that he just tossed It out to the audience. It flew right over my head and I managed to grab the headstock. But I was not close to getting the guitar. But another lucky guy did. Not that I was to disappointed. I was just thrilled that Gene would still do something like that. It was also an great idea to move the Q&A from the first day to the last, so the band could play longer. A really great start to a great cruise.

Setlist: Hard Luck Woman, Christine Sixteen, Got to Choose, Goin’ Blind, Love Her All I Can, Nothin’ to Lose, A Million to One (partial), A World Without Heroes, Only You (partial), Comin’ Home, All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose (just Paul doing the first verse a capella), Every Time I Look at You, Strutter, Sure Know Something, C’mon and Love Me, Rock Bottom, Beth, Shandi, She, Do You Love Me, Mr. Speed and Shout It Out Loud

After the concert was finished we went and grabbed some food at one of the restaurants on the boat. And then It was bedtime for me even if It was Halloween. The other guys went out and partied but I was just to tired after all that traveling. I just had to to get some sleep to survive. Guess I’m starting to get old.

At least I felt fresh and rested on the morning of the second day. Something the other guys did not. But we woke up early anyway and went for some breakfast. The choice of foods on the boat was pretty good. And I really ate more than I should have during the whole trip. After that we spent most of the day walking around mingling with other Kiss fans, drinking and spending a lot of our time in the hot tub on the 12th deck. I really didn’t check out many of the other bands. Beside seeing them when I passed by. Some of them sounded pretty good. But I was on the cruise to see Kiss, and that’s were my focus were.

So the big event of the day was the first indoor concert at the Stardust theater. Just after eating we went down and stood in a queue to get in. We had places in the pit just in front of the stage. This was my first Kiss “club gig” and I was really looking forward to experiencing Kiss in an intimate live setting like this. I missed out on both the first Kruise and the two club gigs they played in London (2010 and 2012). And what a show It was. Maybe the best Kiss show I have ever experienced. The setlist was a little disappointing compared to the incredible setlist in 2011. But there is something really special being upfront in a so intimate setting. Just standing in front picking guitar picks from Gene, Paul and Tommy’s guitars. I was just in heaven during the whole concert. The band and specially Paul seemed to have a lot of fun. Who would ever expected that they would come out for an second encore after RARAN. That have never happened at any Kiss concert I have been to. The concert really topped my two other favorite Kiss concerts (Gotheburg 83 and Donington 96). Just an incredible concert! Kiss have to do something really special to ever top that experience for me.

Setlist: Psycho Circus, Shout It Out Loud, Hell or Hallelujah, Wall of Sound, Hotter Than Hell, All for the Love of Rock & Roll, I Love It Loud, Outta This World, War Machine, Long Way Down, Detroit Rock City, Calling Dr. Love, Love Gun and Black Diamond
Encore: Lick It Up, Christine Sixteen and Rock and Roll All Nite
Encore 2: Cold Gin, Got to Choose, Nothin’ to Lose and Deuce.

After the concert It was my time to have a party and enjoy the great camaraderie among Kiss fans on the boat. I was just hanging around talking to people and drinking beer until five in the morning. And had a blast. Great to meet Kiss fans from all over the world.

On the third day the boat went to Mexico. To a place called Cozumel. A nice place. But beside a little trip to the center of the town Vegard and I choose to stay in the hot tub on the boat relaxing before the photo with the band. When Håkon and Nico came back from Cozumel he had great news. He had fixed so we would get into the second indoor show also. I can’t go into how. But I’m eternally grateful. And no money changed hands so It didn’t feel like we did anything wrong. Even if we were just supposed to see one show. So we were ready for our second show at the Stardust Theater.

Before that we got some more food and checked out the Monster book in the atrium. The book is cool. But It’s just to large and to expensive for my taste. Had It been half the size and about $ 300-400 I would have considered buying the book. No way I’m buying that Monster we saw on the Kruise. I must admit that I’m not that excited about the pictures in the book either. If I had a lot of vintage and unpublished shots there are many others I would have chosen instead of many that got into the book.

Later we met up with some other friends for some dinner before we got us some rest before our photo with Kiss. And by now we had chosen our favorite restaurant on the boat. So we ate dinner there for three days in a row. Great food and great waiters. No need to pay more cover charges on the more expensive restaurants on the boat.

Then there was the time for our photo with Kiss. It took some time standing in queue. But the waiting went fast when you’re with a lot of cool people. But the event was good organized even if the picture Itself felt really rushed. We didn’t get more time than a handshake, a picture and then out again. I was also totally convinced that I had blinked on the picture. So the picture came out better than expected. Even if I look kind of stupid in the shorts. I should have worn jeans. I just didn’t feel like It at the time. I was more or less tired of wearing jeans after the long flight we had to Miami.

After the photo we went straight down to the Starlight Theater and got in. The guy who stamped my hand had a laugh when he did It on top of the stamp from the day before. I didn’t end up in front as on the first show but ended up on the right balcony. And that probably took a way a little of the excitement I had felt during the first show. But It was one helluva show anyway. The main setlist was the same but they changed more songs than I expected. And It was great to hear Take Me, Makin Love, I stole Your Love, She etc. that they did not play the first night. So I had a blast, even if the experience was not close to what the gig the day before had been for me. But the show was easily among the 4-5 best Kiss shows I have seen.

Setlist: Take Me, Psycho Circus, Shout It Out Loud, Hell or Hallelujah, Wall of Sound, Do You Love Me, War Machine, All for the Love of Rock & Roll, Makin’ Love, I Stole Your Love, Outta This World, She, Hotter Than Hell, I Love It Loud, Long Way Down, Magic Touch (partial), Detroit Rock City, Strutter, Calling Dr. Love, Love Gun and Black Diamond
Encore: Lick It Up, C’mon and Love Me and Rock and Roll All Nite.

After the show we went out partying again. This time we more or less stayed at the Vh1 Kiss Lounge most of the time. I had real fun until I suddenly got really tired, grabbed some food and went to bed. The other guys went on for a long time after I had gone to bed.

Then on the last day of the Kruise there were only three priorities. The Q&A with Doc, Gene Simmons pic contest and the Kiss Q&A. The first Q&A started quite early so we more or less went down to the Stardust Theater just after breakfast. The Q&A with Doc was really interesting. And he talked about both the European tour in 2013 and Peters book among a lot of other stuff. There were a lot of people asking questions so the Q&A could not have been better. After the Q&A Doc took pictures with people and signed stuff. So Håkon and Vegard went down to the stage and got their picture taken with him. I really was not that interested at the time. But in hindsight I wish that I also had taken a picture with him. It’s more or less the saw feeling I had after meeting Bill Aucoin in 2004. Why didn’t I get a picture with him?

We stayed in the Stardust Theater to watch the Gene Simmons pic contest. Gene was delayed for the guitar pic throwing contest. And I really don’t find stuff like that much fun really. So if It had not been for Gene being there I probably would not have watched the contest at all. At the same time Paul were a referee at the belly flop contest on deck. Not that I would have found that to be much fun either, but It would probably have been better than the pic contest.

Later in the evening we had the Kiss Q&A. Most people expected It to be on the same stage at the acoustic concert. So most people got surprised when they changed It to the balcony above 12th deck. Most of my friends were already sitting in the hot tub underneath. So I just jumped up there sitting on the side with my legs in the water. The Q&A was quite entertaining. But as last time It was quite useless as an Q&A. The questions had been submitted in advance. So Kiss knew what questions they were going to get. But It was a lot of fun anyway, with the band joking around.

After the Q&A I ant down to see Skid Row for a while. I had not seen them since they opened for Mötley Crüe in 1989. So I was quite excited. But that didn’t last long. I really did not like their new singer so I left after half the set was finished. It was better hanging around the boat drinking some beer on this last day of the Kruise.

The trip home went much better than our trip to down. So after almost a day in Miami and hours on the plane to London and then to Oslo we were back in cold, cold Norway. And back in renovation hell…

The Kruise was an incredible experience. Somthing all Kiss fans should do at least once. And I would really love to go next year also. Even if I don’t think I would be able because all the money we have to spend on the house this year. But if I’m not able to go in 2013 I really hope I’m able to go if there is a Kruise in 2014. At least I will be able to see Kiss in Europe next year. Even if 2012 has not been the best year for me personally It has been a great year for Kiss fans worldwide. And It’s not over yet.

I know I said It would be quiet for a while until the renovation at home is ready. But I just had to come with some comments about Monster. The record has been on high rotation since I got the disc on the Kiss release party in Oslo. So I feel that I’m in a position now to give my view on the record. It will maybe not the most in-depth review you will read of the record. And my view may change after listening to It more. But this is my impression may change after more repeated listening. Take It for what It is. My impression after about twenty spins of the disc.

First of all I will have to say that I was not to impressed after listening to the 90 sec iTunes samples that came out some time ago. I’m a big fan of Sonic Boom and this was nothing like Sonic Boom. The only song that I really really liked was “All For The Love Of Rock’n Roll”. And I even said It to some at the release party that I wished Kiss has delivered a more straight Rock’n Roll record like Sonic Boom. So I was really expecting to be let down by Kiss this time around. Not a major letdown but a minor from the great record Sonic Boom was.

But I will be the first to admit how wrong I was. What an incredible album Monster is. After listening to the finished product the album has just grown and grown on me. Even Hell Or Hallelujah that I haven’t been a big fan of since It came out as a iTunes single this summer works incredible well together with the songs on the album. Maybe not the best standalone track, but a great part of a larger picture.

Listening to the album for the firs time reminded me very much about how I felt listening to Creatures Of The Night for the first time in 1982. I can’t really say why. But the vibe of the record feels a lot of the same to me. A band that has gone heavier with a lot to prove. The only slightly weak point of the album for me is probably the track listing for me.

The two songs I find weaker than the rest on the album are probably the two first songs (Hell Or Hallelujah and Wall Of Sound). Not that they are weak songs. But they are just not so incredible as the rest of the record.

After that we get Freak and the rest of the record is just amazing. And the rest of the song more or less will stand up to anything in the Kiss catalog. Especially Gene shines on this record. So like last time on Sonic Boom It seems like Paul is able to pull out the best of Gene in the recording studio. Not only his songwriting and vocals. But his bass playing on Monster is just incredible.

Of course It’s no way coming around that Paul’s voice is quite rough these days. But to me It’s no big problem on Monster. His songs and the mood of Monster suits his rough way of singing these days. So in the studio It still works. I also feel that his songs on Monster are even more solid than they were on Sonic Boom.

All in all Monster is a great record. Sonic Boom probably had one or two songs that were more stand out tracks than there is on this album. But It also had a couple of tracks that were a little weaker. I just don’t find that on Monster. Even if I find the two first tracks to be weaker than the rest of the tracks.

Verdict: 9/10

As you probably have noticed there has not been much updating of this site in the last couple of weeks. We are renovating our house and moving all my parents stuff at the same time. So most of the time has gone doing that. It’s kinda scary when “real-life” takes all my time. There are so much Kiss stuff I really would like to write about. Just having the time is the problem.

I really hope that I’m able to get most of the stuff done before I go on the Kiss Kruise. So there are not a lot of work waiting for me when I get back from the Kruise. But I really need a vacation right now. So the Kiss Kruise could not have been on a better time for me personally. It will be great having som Kiss party time just with my friends. It’s really my first time away from my family since my “turbo twins” were born in 2008.

The cool thing about renovating is that I will finally get my “Kiss room”. That’s one thing I have been dreaming of for years. And I will post a real blog post with pictures when It’s ready. Right now the stuff is just in boxes as you can see from the picture.

I promise to be back with a lot of new cool stuff in November/December.

About five years ago we got the great message that Kiss had decided to record again. Something that had been out of the question for a lot of years, because of Paul and Gene’s stance on downloading and file sharing. It was great new for a person like me that had been pretty pissed off because of that. I never understood why they in the period 2004-2008 seemed completely fine with being a heritage act.

I have probably never been so uncertain what to expect from a record. Would the band live up to their legacy or would we get an half hearted product like Psycho Circus always have been to me? That they had got Michael Doret to make the cover did not make the anticipation less exciting. And in October 2009 they let loose Sonic Boom on the world.

My first impression of the record was very positive. I probably raved more about Sonic Boom when It came out than I have ever done about any new Kiss record released since I became a fan in 1978. But how does the record hold up today? I find It quite interesting diving into the record after not having listen to It in a couple of months. Before that I had more or less listened to It weekly or daily since came out.

So let’s bring on Da Boom…

Modern Day Delilah
A song I really did not know what to think of when It came out a couple of weeks before the record came out. And in the beginning I found It a little bit difficult to tie the song into the record since I had listened to It so much as a stand alone song and not as an album track. But after a long time listening to It together with the other tracks It really has grown enormously on me. Today I really consider Modern Day Delilah a real classic Kiss track. And I really thought It worked well as an opener on the tours following Sonic Boom.

Russian Roulette
I love the bass part in the beginning of the song. The raw bass sound really makes the hair stand on my back. That’s the kind of stuff  I want to hear on a Kiss record. And the song itself is also a really good Gene song. Not his best on the record but a damn good song. A song that really has stand the test of time since the album came out.

Never Enough
Probably one of the songs I think are the weakest on Sonic Boom. But still I really like It. It has not grown on me, but It’s still a fun song. The likeness to the Poison “Nothing But A Good Time” doesn’t bother me much either, and I really hate Poison. Just a little fun Paul Stanley song even if It’s not among his strongest compositions.

Yes I Know (Nobody’s Perfect)
Used to be my favourite song on the record. And still among the favourites. But other songs on the record have grown more on me. But the song is the best example that Gene really shines on this record. And even if Paul songs are good they are not close to Gene’s contributions on Sonic Boom.

Stand
An incredible verse and pre-chorus ends up in a terrible chorus. If the chorus had the same quality as the verse and pre-chorus Stand would probably have been the best song on the album. I just hate how they ruined a great song with a shitty pompous chorus like this. It almost feels like they tried to put a bad version of “God Gave…” into an extremely cool rock’n roll song from one of the first albums. And It doesn’t work at all.

Hot and Cold
A really cool version of the “Rotten To The Core” demo from the 70′s. At first It sounded a little strange because I was used to the lyrics from the demo. But once I got used to the lyrics It became a really great song. And It has just grown and grown on me. This is really the kind of song I would like many more of on Monster when It comes out. Songs like this is really what Kiss is all about for me.

All For the Glory
This song was really the big surprise for me. It has gone from being just OK to being my favorite song on the record. It’s a really cool rock’n roll song with a great drive. It reminds me a little about “The Hellacopters” and that’s a good thing. Eric’s vocals on the song is also really cool. I would never have expected that I would like It as much as I did. Before the record came out I would have preferred that Gene and Paul sang all songs. But I’m glad they didn’t. Because this song ROCKS!!!

Danger Us
This song has gone from being the one I thought were the worst song to being one of my favourite songs on the record. The lyrics on the chorus is a little lame. Like a word play for small children. But the song in itself is really, really good.

I’m an Animal
The weakest Gene song on the record. It reminds me a little of Within from Psycho Circus. Why they chose this song over the other Gene songs to play live I really don’t know. But at least It worked out better live than what Within did. The song Itself is OK. But not close to the the best songs on Sonic Boom. And It really drags the record down a little.

When Lightning Strikes
A cool little song. Not as cool as Eric’s vocal contribution to the record. But I do like the song. Even if It doesn’t do that much for me. But I do enjoy It as a part of the record. And It makes the record flow again after “I’m an Animal” drags It down a little.

Say Yeah
Another great song from Paul. This has also really grown on me since the release. I also think the live version played on the tours were really great. If there is one song from Sonic Boom I would really like that they continued to play on the Monster Tour this would be the one.

So as you probably guessed by now I still love this record to death. And even if the favourites have changed a little since It came out in 2009 think It’s at strong as It was when It came out. I really hope that Monster is as strong, because the Hell or Hallelujah haven’t really had the same impact on me as most of the songs on Sonic Boom have had.

Verdict: 8/10

Most Kiss fans I know have more or less been as anxious for the Destroyer Resurrected as to the release of Monster later in the year. And after the date of release had become official the build up had been a pretty for the release. It felt like the Kiss and Universal ‘press machine’ were working as It should. Sites like the Kiss Faq even followed up with a great interview with Bob Ezrin etc.

But then something happened. If It’s because somebody pushed a button they should not have done or what I’m not really sure of. Kiss Destroyer Resurrected was suddenly released as a US only release on iTunes. Over three weeks before the release date. WTF is that all about? In a world that where It’s more and more difficult to sell your music. Do you really want to piss off most of your buyers? Nice enough for the American fans who doesn’t want to buy physical media anymore. But what about those who do? And last but not least. What about all the people around the world who doesn’t have access to the US iTunes?

I have never seen such a blatant way of pissing you’re money away. I could have understood It if the business plan was to release It worldwide first on iTunes so they got some downloads before the CD and LP was released. But what they managed to do is to create probably the most pirated Kiss album online. Did they really think the fans with US iTunes accounts would not share It with non US fans?

What It all has ended up with is that all the Kiss fans I know about has a copy of the files for the album without paying anything for It. I wonder if that really was the idea? They should have known that most fans are craving new stuff so much that they would not be willing to sit and wait for weeks when the stuff was ‘out there’.

I really don’t understand what they were thinking…

Well. There has not been much summer and I don’t live in a city. Even if they call the place I live in a city. It has been bloody cold and raining for the most of the summer. But It’s been eventful months as a Kiss fan and a really busy time. I even managed to get married with my wonderful girlfriend for ten years, now my wife.

Beside my wedding, the main event for me as a Kiss fan was the Kiss concert in Holmenkollen on June 30th. A concert I had been really looking forward to and was a little scared how would be. How would Paul’s voice hold out? Would he sound better than the concert in New Orleans earlier in the year. That concert did not live up to the expectations after Paul’s vocal surgery at all.

The “Kiss weekend” started on Friday the day before the concert. Kiss Army Norway was having a gathering for all Kiss fans on Rock In. I was not able to drink anything because I had to get up with early with the kids the day after. But I decided to take the car and go in to Oslo anyway. Kiss fan arrangements are not something that should be missed. It’s always fun to meet old and new friends and chat a little about Kiss even without alcohol.

I met mega Kiss fan and collector Carol and his Marina from Holland outside Grand Hotel where Kiss was staying on the way to Rock In. And had a really cool chat with them before I went up to Rock In. I haven’t the patience to wait outside hotels anymore like I did in my younger days. But at least I did get to see Nick Simmons outside the hotel. Not that It was to exciting. But It was kinda Kiss related anyway.
Rock In was fun even if I was sober. Met some friends I had not spoken to in a while and spoke to foreign fans I have just had contact with through the internet before.

One of the main topics were the fog that had almost ruined the Kollen Festival on It’s first day. For the first hours of the festival It was almost impossible to see the stage even if you were really close to the stage. But It got a little bit better when the main attraction Rihanna came onstage. Hopefully It would not be as bad the festivals second day when Kiss was playing.

After having woken up with the kids on Saturday morning I went Oslo to ‘Popsenteret’ to see Stig and Alexander’s lecture ‘Planet Kiss’. And It was actually quite good. Of was of course mostly directed to more casual and newer fans than us die-hards that have been living with Kiss for over thirty years. But It never got boring or embarrassing at all. So the guys did a great job. After the lecture I got my ticket (armband) from Stig, and I was ready to go.

Before we went up to Holmenkollen and the Kollen festival to see Kiss we made a stop at ‘Sarahs Telt’ in the center of Oslo. And that was a lot of fun. The place was packed with Kiss fans from all over. We sat down at a table with a lot of Norwegian, Swedish and English Kiss fans, and had a great time. We were told by some that met Kiss at the airport that they would not play ‘Hell or Hallelujah’, that would be saved for the London show after the song had been released two days after the Kollen show.

During the time we were at ‘Sarahs Telt’ my friend Håkon texted me and told me that he was on the first row at stage Kiss was playing. He is the most patient guy I know about and always does stuff like that when he attending concerts. We stayed at Sarah’s Telt for about an hour and then went up to Holmenkollen by the subway.

When we came into the festival area I was the only one with a VIP ticket. So I just thought I would check out Billy Idol before Kiss started playing and heading for the VIP area. Billy Idol was fun even if I’m not the biggest fan in the world. But he has some cool songs and the band seemed to be in good spirit. They probably sounded a little mellower compared to what I have heard of them before. But a cool concert anyway.

After that I went to the VIP area. And what a joke that was. Of course It’s nice with toilets, drink and food. But It was a loooong way from the stage. And I was there to see Kiss, not to drink and go to the toilet. If they expect people to pay for VIP tickets they should sort out a way so those would be the best ‘seats in the house’ . So I went out of the VIP area and headed for the main stage. The area in front of the first barrier was not yet filled up so that was my main target. After that I just wandered around talking to people and after a little while I was watching Turbonegro from the fourth row. Right behind Håkon. Turbonegro was quite good even if they are not close to being among my favorite bands. Their new vocalist is so much better than their last one. It’s really strange that I don’t like them better because their kind of rock’n roll is really up my alley. But that’s the way It is, I really can’t explain It. It’s not that I haven’t tried to like them. I have even seen them live six or seven times.

Then came the ‘magical pause’ before the Kiss show started. I really love the anticipation that’s ‘in the air’ before every Kiss concert. The roadies going around the stage, flipping guitar pics at people in the front rows etc. I even got a Gene pic that landed on my shoulder. Usually I don’t really try to find them at all. I’m to old and to lazy.

The the ‘Kiss curtain’ went up and anticipation grew even more. How would this sound compared to what we saw online from New Orleans. Would Paul be able to cut It? Then “Oslo… You Wanted the best. You got the best…” blasted out of the speakers. And the band started the show with “Detroit Rock City”. My favorite show starter beside “I Stole You’re Love”. Oh boy did Kiss and Paul deliver. For the first couple of songs I were more or less just listening to Paul’s voice. And he sounded great compared to the New Orleans show. And even much better compared to even the shows I saw in 2008 and 2010.

The setlist was: Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud, Deuce, Makin’ Love, I Love It Loud, Crazy Crazy Nights, Shock Me, Calling Dr. Love, 100,000 Years, Love Gun, Black Diamond, Lick It Up, I Was Made for Lovin’ You and Rock and Roll All Nite.

For me It was probably the coolest Kiss show I have seen since 1996. It felt really intimate from where I was standing even if It was a festival show.  For me It became a really magical show. The band was in really spirits and adding Makin’ Love to the setlist was a great move. It was the first time I saw the song live and It really worked well in the set. I even liked the break in the middle that most people don’t like.

I also really liked that Gene stayed on the floor after his bass solo and blood spitting. The flying is one of the few things that I really think is redundant with the other shows today. The same goes for Paul’s flying routine that he did not do in Oslo either.

What I find strange is that I find myself more and more liking the ‘best of’ set lists they are playing, and don’t really crave the obscure songs any more. If that’s because I know we will get them on the Kiss Kruise or not I’m not really sure about. It could be that. The only thing I would have done different at the Kollen concert would be replacing ‘I Love It Loud’ with ‘God Of Thunder’. But otherwise I’m really satisfied with what I found to be an almost perfect concert experience for me. Of course they are getting older and the movements and stuff are a little more slower and stale. But in my eyes they are growing old with style. And even if Paul’s voice isn’t the same as before It more than works for me.

After the concert finished I met up with some of my friends and headed for the subway down to Oslo. We were supposed to go to the cellar underneath ‘John Dee’ where we usually have had the Kiss pubs for an after party. But I was just to incredibly tired that I just felt like going home to bed.

A great day and a great concert. The only let down is that I were not able to go to London and see the show on Wednesday 4th of July the week after because of work. But all in all I had a really great time. And I can’t just wait for October the Kruise. I need my ‘Kiss fix’ soon again…

So thanks Kiss for a great show in Oslo. And last but not least all the cool fans who made the day a great experience.